How to Obtain Permission to Travel While Your Green Card is Being Processed

If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you may be wondering how to obtain permission to travel while your green card is being processed.

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Introduction

If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States, you may travel outside the country and return using your Green Card. However, if you plan to be away for an extended period of time or if you want to travel before your Green Card is issued, you will need to obtain permission from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

There are two ways to obtain permission to travel while your Green Card is being processed: advance parole or a reentry permit. Advance parole allows you to return to the United States after traveling abroad, while a reentry permit allows you to leave and return multiple times during the validity period of the permit.

Applying for advance parole or a reentry permit can be complex, so it is important to consult with an experienced immigration attorney before beginning the process. An attorney can help you understand the requirements and ensure that you meet all the necessary criteria.

What is a Green Card?

A Green Card is a document that allows a person to live and work in the United States permanently. If you have a Green Card, you are known as a permanent resident. Permanent residents are sometimes referred to as “aliens.”

The Process of Applying for a Green Card

If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you may apply for a Green Card. A Green card allows you to live and work permanently in the United States. The process of applying for a Green Card is called “adjustment of status.”

If you are already in the United States, you can file an adjustment of status application with the USCIS. However, if you are outside of the United States, you will need to apply for an immigrant visa through a U.S. consulate or embassy.

Once you have filed your application, the USCIS will review your case and decide whether or not to approve your Green Card. If your application is approved, you will be issued a Green Card and will be able to live and work permanently in the United States.

How to Obtain Permission to Travel While Your Green Card is Being Processed

If you are a legal permanent resident of the United States, you may be able to travel outside of the country while your green card is being processed. However, you will need to obtain permission from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you leave.

There are two ways to obtain permission to travel while your green card is being processed:

Apply for a re-entry permit: A re-entry permit allows you to stay outside of the United States for up to two years without losing your legal permanent resident status. You can apply for a re-entry permit by filing Form I-131 with the USCIS.

Obtain a immigrant visa: If you plan on staying outside of the United States for more than two years, or if you do not meet the requirements for a re-entry permit, you can apply for an immigrant visa. An immigrant visa allows you to live and work permanently in the United States. You can apply for an immigrant visa by filing Form I-130 with the USCIS.

The Benefits of Having a Green Card

As a permanent resident of the United States, you are entitled to many rights and privileges. You can live and work permanently in the United States, and you can travel in and out of the country with relative ease. However, there are some restrictions on your travel privileges while your green card is being processed.

If you want to travel outside of the United States while your green card application is pending, you must obtain permission from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This permission is in the form of a document called an Advance Parole Document. The Advance Parole Document allows you to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad without having to obtain a new immigrant visa.

There are two ways to apply for an Advance Parole Document:

– You can include Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with your green card application (Form I-485).

– If you have already been granted permanent residence, you can file Form I-131 separately from your green card application.

If you are granted an Advance Parole Document, it will be valid for one year from the date it is issued. You can use it for multiple trips during that time period.

The Process of Renewing Your Green Card

The process of renewing your Green Card is relatively simple. You will need to complete an Application for Renewal of Green Card, which is available from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You will also need to pay a filing fee, which is currently $455. Once your application and fee have been received, the USCIS will begin processing your renewal.

The USCIS typically takes around two to three months to process a Green Card renewal application. However, it is possible to expedite the process if you need to travel urgently. If you are looking to travel outside of the United States while your renewal application is being processed, you will need to obtain permission from the USCIS in the form of an Advance Parole document.

An Advance Parole document allows you to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad without having to obtain a new visa. It is important to note that an Advance Parole document does not guarantee entry into the United States; you will still be subject to inspection by a Customs and Border Protection officer upon arrival.

If you are interested in obtaining an Advance Parole document, you will need to complete an Application for Travel Document, which is available from the USCIS. You will also need to pay a filing fee, which is currently $575. Once your application and fee have been received, the USCIS will begin processing your request.

The USCIS typically takes around two to three weeks to process a request for an Advance Parole document. However, it is possible to expedite the process if you need to travel urgently. If you are looking for more information on how to obtain permission to travel while your Green Card is being processed, please contact us today.

The Process of Applying for U.S. Citizenship

The average time it takes to naturalize as a U.S. citizen is 8 to 10 months.1 The steps involved and the timing of each vary depending on whether you are applying based on having a Green Card for at least five years (Form N-400) or for being married to a U.S. citizen for at least three years (Form N-600/600K). If you meet certain requirements, you may be able to use the shorter Form N-426, “Certificate of Citizenship in Lieu of Certificate of Naturalization.”

Whichever form you use, the main steps are similar:

1. File your form with USCIS and pay the fee.

2. Get fingerprinted biometrics collected at an ASC appointment.

3. Attend an interview and pass an English and civics test, unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver.

4. Become a U.S. citizen either at your ceremony or through overseas naturalization if you are employed by the U.S., certain members of the military, or their spouses employed abroad by certain international organizations like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The Differences Between a Green Card and a Visa

There are two ways that foreign nationals can legally enter and stay in the United States: with a green card or a visa. A green card, also known as a permanent resident card, allows an individual to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely.Green card holders are also allowed to travel outside of the U.S. and re-enter, as long as they don’t stay outside of the country for more than one year at a time.

Visas, on the other hand, are temporary permissions to enter the U.S. that are granted for a specific reason and for a specific period of time. For example, someone may obtain a student visa in order to study at an American university for four years. After the four years are up, the student would need to either obtain another type of visa or leave the country.

So, what does this mean if you have a green card but want to travel outside of the United States? Well, if you plan on staying outside of the country for less than one year, then you can simply use your green card to re-enter. However, if you plan on being gone for longer than one year, then you will need to obtain what’s called a “reentry permit” from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you leave.

A reentry permit is essentially permission from USCIS for you to temporarily leave the United States while your green card is being processed. It is important to note that a reentry permit is not a visa – it does not give you permission to enter any other country besides the United States. You will still need to apply for visas from any other countries that you wish to visit during your travels.

If you have any questions about traveling while your green card is being processed, or if you need help obtaining a reentry permit, please contact our office today!

The Process of Applying for a Green Card for a Family Member

The process of applying for a green card for a family member is known as sponsorship. The first step is to sponsor the family member by filing an immigrant petition. This petition is filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the petition is approved, the sponsored family member will be notified and will be able to apply for a green card.

The sponsored family member will need to fill out an application, which includes a biographic information form, a medical examination form, and an affidavit of support form. The biographic information form asks for basic information about the applicant, such as name, date of birth, place of birth, etc. The medical examination form must be completed by a licensed doctor and includes questions about the applicant’s medical history and current health. The affidavit of support form must be completed by the sponsor and requires the sponsor to provide financial information to show that they can support the sponsored family member.

Once the application is complete, it will be sent to the USCIS for processing. The USCIS will review the application and make a decision on whether or not to approve it. If approved, the sponsored family member will be notified and will be able to pick up their green card at a local USCIS office. If denied, the USCIS will notify the sponsor and sponsored family member of the decision and reason for denial.

FAQs

1. How do I obtain permission to travel while my green card is being processed?
2. What are the requirements for obtaining a green card?
3. How long does it take to obtain a green card?
4. How do I renew my green card?
5. What are the benefits of having a green card?